Remembering a brave battle well fought

Remembering a brave battle well fought

King Taksin the Great showed courage and genius in winning back the nation

Sailors in the boats re-enacting the battle to liberate Ayutthaya dressed in military costumes of the era. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Sailors in the boats re-enacting the battle to liberate Ayutthaya dressed in military costumes of the era. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The reconstruction of a significant event in the country's history has played out over 19 days to show present-day Thais how a "water battle" led by a monarch honoured with the "Great King" title freed the nation from Burmese occupation.

From Oct 24 to Nov 11, the navy put together an extraordinary spectacle involving more than 500 naval personnel and a series of traditional vessels that set sail along the eastern coast and on the Chao Phraya River from Chanthaburi to the old capital of Ayutthaya.

The event emulated the military campaign headed by King Taksin to liberate Ayutthaya, which had been overrun and occupied by Burma, then one of the region's big powers, more than 200 years ago.

Like in the old days, the parade of troops dressed in Taksin-era military costumes made its way from Chanthaburi to Ayutthaya via Rayong, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani.

Everything resembled the old campaign with the exception of the country's first Endurance-class landing platform dock ship, HTMS Angthong, deployed to trace the early portion of the military journey in the sea.

Rear Adm Chartchai Thongsaard, commander of the Amphibious and Combat Service and Squadron, said the navy recognised the tremendous contributions which King Taksin had made which led to the country's liberation.

Remembered as one of the great warrior kings in Thai history, he was a master in mobilising naval troops and mapping out a highly tactical water war strategy to retake the old capital.

"Without him, we would have no nation. He also possessed exceptional skills in water battles. We have tried our best to organise the event where the purpose is to remind us Thais of how grateful we are to the monarchy as the country's founding pillars," said Rear Adm Chartchai, who is secretary of the parade organising committee.

The navy's 19-day parade titled "250 Years: Retracing the Footpath of King Taksin the Great from Chanthaburi to Ayutthaya" commemorated the 250th anniversary of founding of Thon Buri as the capital in 1768, after Ayutthaya.

The reconstructed campaign, however, is 10 times smaller than King Taksin's troops who numbered over 5,000. More than 100 battle boats were also deployed in the actual battle.

Rear Adm Chartchai said the route began in the eastern province of Chanthaburi where the king had retreated after the fall of Ayutthaya. There, he plotted the military offensive to expel the Burmese.

From Chanthaburi, the king's journey to liberation meandered along the eastern coast stopping for a rest at the Rayong estuary, Samae Sarn in Sattahip and the northern Pattaya cove in Chon Buri, and Bangpakong estuary before entering the inland area through the waterway at what is now the Royal Thai Naval Academy in Samut Prakan. From there, troops navigated through the Chao Phraya River bound for Ayutthaya.

In the days before reaching Ayutthaya, the troops made a rest stop at Wat Ku in Nonthaburi which was the rallying point for people and troops who would resume the rest of their 235km journey which ended at Wat Bang Dua in Ayutthaya, the final gathering point before the troops drove out the invaders.

In the reconstructed campaign, a statue of King Taksin was placed aboard the HTMS Angthong which replicated King Taksin's route between the coastal provinces of Chanthaburi to Samut Prakan, from where the journey continued using traditional wooden battle boats to sail up to Ayuttaya.

On Nov 1, HTMS Angthong arrived at the month of Chao Praya River in Samut Prakan where a stirring ceremony to commemorate King Taksin was under way at the Royal Thai Naval Academy.

Later at Wat Ku, locals dressed in Mon traditional attire awaited the arrival of the campaign.

The spectators braved the sun to pay their respects to the statue of King Taksin which was taken by one of the 25 battle boats in the reconstructed fleet. A similar packed scene was also witnessed at other rest stops along the route.

At Wat Ku, naval and high-level ranking officials gathered at the temple pier to welcome King Taksin's statue before moving it to a religious hall ceremony.

A young woman who was in the crowd said she was a supporter of the navy's Seal unit which actively took part in the Tham Luang cave rescue of 12 young footballers and their coach in Chiang Rai earlier this year.

"I came here to see the event with my own eyes. I will come again at night to see the light and sound show," said the woman who declined to be named.

Rear Adm Chartchai said each province through which the parade passed organised its own celebration event. In Ayutthaya, it was Wat Madua from where King Taksin took his troops to fight and finally expel the Burmese at the Pho Sam Ton military camp, which was where King Taksin won the battle.

The last day of the event was held at the palace of King Taksin which now serves as the headquarters of the Royal Thai Navy. A light and sound show was also put together to celebrate the event.

The navy's commemoration project was part of events undertaken by state agencies at cabinet's order to mark the 250th anniversary of Thon Buri kingdom, which precedes the present Rattanakosin period.

Noted historian Nidhi Eoseewong said King Taksin had great skills in warring combat operations as he managed to execute a plan that defeated the enemy's military which far outnumbered his.

"He could read the whole game and knew exactly what to do to achieve victory," Mr Nidhi said.

"Waterways were the primary mode of transport in the old days and King Taksin harnessed the water routes to gain a military edge and beat the Burmese that laid siege to Ayutthaya."

He said the monarchy formed an unbreakable bond with Thais and this is reflected in history.

The institution remains very important in Thai modern history as it is a key element uniting the country.

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